Power (Sestina)

A sestina with only one deliberate rule break. For more of my writing, go to andrewhenleywriting.wordpress.com

Life in the gutter; society’s ashtray.

Landscape clutter like a dented street sign.

For Judas silver, she’s anyone you need.

A lamppost halo on our not-so-Virgin Mary.

The priest’s worship is all a joke,

a rolled down window to her bleak joy.

 

She wears freedom, she wears joy,

her mouth a honeydew ashtray.

Makeup moniker, private corporate joke.

Bra and fishnets - cardboard sign.

Cheap dull eyes Cleopatracized,

A leader is what they need

 

but a slave is all they need.

A fist with fingertips of joy,

dressed in edible cherry woad, Bouadica.

Ember spark constellation in ashtray

sky. Good intentions, oneway sign

or is that lie a joke?

 

The world’s a knockknock joke,

unkind kiss, mirrored need.

Fading like a motel sign.

Take a breath, inhale the joy

just leave the remnants in the ashtray.

Bathe in burns like Joan Of Arc.

 

Beautiful, naked, dead, Monroe,

Tragedy’s the truest joke.

As gold drowns in the ashtray,

A saviour’s what they need

or maybe just some painted on joy,

a less than vital sign.

 

Dirty eyed wink, secret sign.

Mood mantra, radio plays Madonna

again. Potential suicide stained by joy.

“I love you”; a joke.

Bartered goods, ancient need.

Light burns out in the ashtray.